PA RT В Conversation Practice

I'm Looking Forward to it!

(A man is calling a couple he doesn't know) Rose: Hello?

Carl: Hello, is this Rose Alexis? Rose: Yes.

Carl: You don't know me, but this is Carl Matthews. Ron Apple in Tucson gave me your number and asked me to give you a call.

Rose: Oh, that's nice. So you're a friend of Ron's? How is he anyway?

Carl: Oh, he's doing very well. Their new baby boy's a real tiger, and Ron's got a promotion. Lucy is planning to go back to work soon, and she's looking forward to that.

Rose: Well, that's good to hear. Carl, what are you doing in Minneapolis?

Carl: I'm attending a conference at the Hilton until Thursday.

Rose: Well, do you have any time at all to get together?

Carl: Well, tonight there's a banquet I have to go to. But tomor­row and Thursday evening I'm free

Rose: Good, why don't you come for dinner tomorrow? Do you have a car?

Carl: No, I'm afraid I don't.

Rose: Well, I'll ask Bill to pick you up after work — say, at six?

Then he can avoid the rush hour. Carl: Sounds absolutely great! My room's 483, Carl Matthews.

He can call me from the lobby and I'll come down. Rose: Fine. I'm looking forward to it! Carl: Me, too. Until tomorrow then. Rose: Bye.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions: Why is Carl Matthews calling Rose Alexis? How is Ron Apple? What is Carl doing in Minneapolis? Is he going to visit Ron's friends?

//. Listen to the conversation again. In one paragraph of about 60 words give a brief account of the conversation.

III. Read the conversation.

IV. Find in the text appropriate phrases for the following: Почему бы вам не придти пообедать завтра? Хорошо. Буду

ждать с нетерпением. Я попрошу Билла заехать за вами после работы, предположим в 6 часов? Рон дал мне номер вашего телефона и попросил позвонить вам. Как он поживает? У него все хорошо. Рон получил повышение по службе. Звучит гран­диозно! Приятно слышать это.

V. Give a piece of advice to your friend: e.g. — Why don't you go in for sports?

— That sounds a good idea.

Prompts: go to the seaside, ask David for help, send him a telegram, buy yourself a guidebook, phone Mary, book a room in advance.

VI. Act out the conversation.

VII. Situation: You are at Paul's house. He has just picked up the phone when you come into the room. You hear what he says, but can only guess what the caller, Lucy, says. Read everything Paul says first, then fill in the phrases Lucy might say.

Paul: Lucy! How nice to hear from you. How are you?

Lucy:...

Paul: I'm fine, thanks.

Lucy:.....

Paul: Next Saturday evening? Nothing special, I think.

Lucy:.....

Paul: Of course, if it's anything like your last party. Thanks

very much.

Lucy:....

Paul: I'd like to, of course, but I'm doing something next Sunday.

Lucy:...

Paul: Yes, I will. And give my regards to your parents, too.

Lucy:...

Paul: Yes, I'll look forward to it. Bye!

VIII. Situation. You have invited a few of your very good friends around for a party this evening, but one of your friends is calling to say he (she) can't come. You are sorry, of course. You agree to meet some other time.

At a Party

Maggie is at an office party. She's talking to a photographer. Maggie: Hallo! This is a good party, isn't it? Joe: Yes, it is. It's fantastic.

Maggie: You're not English, are you? Joe: No, I'm not.

Maggie: Oh, of course, you're American.

Joe: No, I'm not American. I'm Canadian. I live in Toronto.

Maggie: Really? Joe: Yeah! But how about a drink? Would you like a glass of

beer?

Maggie: No, thank you. I don't like beer very much. Joe: Well, would you like a glass of wine? Red or white?

Maggie: White, please — and dry. I like dry white wine. Joe: Right! One glass of white wine. It's cold too.

Maggie: That's lovely! Thank you. Joe: Would you like to meet my friends?

Maggie: Yes, I would. Are they Canadian too? Joe: No, they're not. They are American.

/. Listen to the conversation "At a Party" and answer the fol­lowing questions:

Where is Maggie? Who is she talking to? Where is Joe from? What nationality is he? What does Joe offer Maggie? What are his exact words?

//. Read the conversation and analyse its language peculiarities.

III. Find in the text the appropriate English phrases for the following:

Вы не хотели бы познакомиться с моими друзьями? — Да. Хороший вечер, не так ли? Вы не хотите стакан пива? — Нет, спасибо. Мне не очень нравится пиво. Вы ведь не англичанин?

Вы не хотите выпить? Действительно? Ваши друзья канадцы? — Нет.

IV. Offer your friend:

a cup of tea, a glass of lemonade, a piece of bread, a cup of milk, some biscuits, a cake, a glass of beer, a cup of coffee, a glass of red wine, some apples, some more tea, some more water, some more bread.

Your friend will accept or refuse. e.g. — Would you like a glass of dry wine?

— Yes, please. I'd love a glass.

e.g. — Would you like a glass of red wine?

— No, thanks. I don't like red wine.

V. Respond expressing invitation:

e.g. — Is that your book?

— Yes, would you like to read it?

1. Is that your record? (hear) 2. Is that your car? (see) 3. Are these your books? (read) 4. Are these your stamps? (see) 5. Is this your typewriter? (use)

VI. Act out the conversation.

VII. Situation 1: Your friend has just come to see you. You invite him (her) into the sitting-room for a cup of coffee. Your friend prefers strong tea with milk. You offer him (her) a cake but he (she) prefers biscuits. After tea you offer your friend to see your photographs.

Situation 2: You've come to New York to an international conference. At the moment you are at a banquet at a restaurant. Sitting next to you is a beautiful woman. You are offering her different things on the table and trying to make conversation. You introduce yourselves and exchange information about jobs and nationalities. She is a physicist from Cambridge University.

I Really Must be Going

Angela: Well, it's really late. I really "must be going now. I'm ever so tired. Thanks very much for the party though. It was smashing!

Paul: Are you sure?

Angela: Yes, I really must be going. I've got a long way to get home.

Paul: Well, you don't look tired.

Angela: I feel it. (laughs)

Paul: Oh, come along! Stay a while!

Angela: I'd love to but...

Paul: Dan's staying. Tony and Kate are staying.

Angela: No, I really can't. 1 must go I have to be up early

tomorrow.

Paul: You've got to be on your way? Angela: Yes.

Pa.ul: What a shame! Well, I hope we'll see you again soon. Angela: Thanks very much. Bye. Paul: Bye, bye.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions: What excuse does Angela give to leave the party? What does Paul say to her as she is leaving?

//. Act out the conversation.

III. Situation: You are at a party which you are not enjoying very much and are waiting for an excuse to leave. When you see two or three others leaving early, you think this is your chance. What do you say to your English host/hostess as you get up to go, and what excuse do you give for leaving?

Listening Christmas

It was Christmas and there was a big party in the house. Guests came and went, but the party continued. Then the bell rang. Several people shouted, "Come in " and a small man opened the front door and came in. Nobody knew him, but the host went to meet him and took him to the bar for a drink. The man sat there happily for an hour and a half and drank. Then suddenly he stopped and looked at his host. "Do you know", he said, "Nobody invited me to the party. I don't know you. I don't know your wife and I don't know any of your guests. My wife and I wanted to go out in our car, but one of your guests' cars was in front of our gate, so I came here to find him — and my wife is waiting in our car for me to come back".

/. Listen to the text "Christmas". Ask and answer questions on the text.

II. Retell the text.

III. How do you usually celebrate Christmas? Do you usually go out or stay at home at Christmas? How did you celebrate Christmas this year?

At a Party

It was a few days before Christmas, so when the office closed at half past five, most of the young men and typists stayed and had a party. They ate and drank, danced and sang songs and nobody wanted to go home. But Joe had a wife at home and lived quite a long way from the city. Every few minutes he looked at his watch and at last when it was very late, he began to leave.

"Joe!" shouted his friends. "Are you leaving? Why don't you stay and enjoy the party?""! am not leaving", said Joe, "I am only going down to the station to miss the train back home. I will be back here in a few minutes".

/. Listen to the text "At a Party", ask and answer questions on the text.

/I. Retell the text.

Self check

/. Use the proper tense forms:

Caroline: 26721.

Paul: Hullo. Caroline?

Caroline: Yes?

Paul: Caroline. It's Paul.

Caroline: Hullo.

Paul: We (have) a telegram from Nina's brother this

morning. He (fly) in from Ceylon. Caroline: Oh, gosh! Paul: And he (arrive) at Heathrow this evening some time.

But we (contact) the airport and the flight number (be) wrong, so we(not, quite, be sure) what time he (come). Caroline: Yes.

Paul: And we think we ought to go and meet him. Caroline: Oh, well, yes.

Paul:... because he (not, know) his way around too well. Caroline: No. Paul: So I (doubt) whether we (be able) to come to the

party. Caroline: Oh, what a shame! Well, you know if he (feel) up

to it, see if you can bring him along. You know, I mean

if the time (be) right, and so on. Why don't you do

that? Paul: If he (get) in early enough, I think we might try and do

that. But we may have a long wait there, and if it

(be) too late, he (probably, want) a bath and just want

to get to bed.

Caroline: Oh, yes. He (just, want) to relax. Paul: But I (take) a week's holiday while he (be) here, so

perhaps we can get over and see you one evening

during the week

Caroline: Oh, well, that would be nice. Just give me a ring. Paul: О. К. Bye, bye!

//. Translate into English:

В субботу у моей жены был день рождения. Ей исполни­лось 37 лет. Мы пригласили наших родителей и несколько друзей на ее день рождения. Мы прекрасно провели время. Жена приготовила вкусные блюда. Одна из ее подруг принесла хорошие пластинки, и мы с наслаждением слушали их. В то время как мы танцевали, наши родители смотрели слайды своего путешествия по Крыму. В июне мой день рождения. Мне исполнится 40 лет. Мы собираемся отпраздновать мой день рождения в ресторане.

Fluency

/. Talking points

1. Do you like going to parties? If so, what kind of parties do you prefer, and why? If not, why not?

2. Do you like holding and organising parties yourself? Why/Why not?

3. Discuss some ways of getting rid of a party (or guests who overstay their welcome).

4. What is your idea of a good party?

5. Do you like to go out to a restaurant for a party? Why? Why not?

//. Act out the following situations:

1. You are going to give a party tomorrow. So you are calling your friend. She (he) says she'd (he'd) like to come and asks you some questions. (Prompts: What time...? How many guests...? pop records? bring anything? plenty to eat and drink?)

2. You are at a party. There are some other guests at the party. Some of them are the host's and the hostess's colleagues, the others are their school friends. You get acquainted and ask each other some questions.

3. You have spent a very enjoyable evening at your friend's party. It's time for you to leave. Your friend wants you to stay a little longer but you can't.

///. What was the last party you held or were invited to? a birthday party? New Year party? etc. Tell us what it was like.

IV. You have a new flat. Write a letter like this inviting your neighbour in the class to a party at your flat.

Flat 1,

3, Oakley Street, Chelsea, London S. W. 3 November 1st, 19... Dear Jim,

I live in Chelsea now and I have a new flat. Please note my new address. Put it in your diary!

Would you like to come to a party on Saturday November 10th at 8 p.m.? Would you like to bring Sally too?

Yours

Stephen

This is Jim's answer to Stephen's letter.

Top flat,

3 Riverside Road, Fulham, London S. W. 5 November 3rd 19... Dear Stephen,

Thank you for your invitation. I'd love to come to your party. Sally would like to come too, but she's busy. Would you like to borrow my new Japanese tape recorder? It's fantastic. See you on the 10th.

Yours,

Jim

Now write your own answer to your neighbour's letter of invitation.

UNIT 25

GRAMMAR: DEGREES OF COMPARISON.